The Godfather (1972) – Review

★★★★★ – “Simply a masterpiece.”

The Godfather is written & directed by Francis Ford Coppola and stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall and Richard Conte.

The ageing patriarch of an organised crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.

Whenever you get into a discussion with someone about filmmaking or ask about their favourite movies of all time, at some point they will mention The Godfather. There’s a very simple explanation for this, and it’s something to be discovered when experiencing the movie for yourself.

It’s very clear how incredibly well written this movie is, from the first scene, to the last. Not only the writing, but the magnetic performances throughout are consistently showcased against a backdrop of New York from 1945-1955. One of the reasons this movie is so beautiful is because of how realistic it is. Although we can’t say we’ve been a part of an empire like featured in the movie, we can all relate to the characters. It’s a dark and tragic story.

The acting as aforementioned is phenomenal. Brando is vitally important in his convincing portrayal of Don Vito Corleone. As is Al Pacino as he gradually becomes the front-man during the movie’s running-length. Caan has a heart-breaking turn in his character’s arc, and he performs wonderfully. The same for Duvall, Conte and everyone else not mentioned. The list is too long to name each individual, but they don’t go unnoticed.

Although this is a long movie, there’s so much going on and in such intricate detail that the time effortlessly drifts by. Every character has a chance to transform within the time-frame. Don’t be put off by the duration. Many filmmakers these days are afraid of making their work too long, but if done correctly, it can be a tremendous piece of art. This movie is a fine example of that fact.

The original score by Nino Rota is one of the most recognised soundtracks of all time, and respectfully so. There are moments where his music is used greatly, and moments where it isn’t used at all. While this happens the music is changing also. It’s the perfect sound for such a story, and pairs with the picture brilliantly.

Verdict; The Godfather is widely regarded as a masterpiece. One of the greatest movies of our time. I can fully agree with these statements and add that in its many years since release, it hasn’t aged a bit. If you haven’t yet experienced The Godfather, please do yourself a favour. With so much greatness in front of you, it’s an offer you can’t refuse.